RAW founder B Raman dies battling cancer

One of India's foremost security experts and one of the founders of India's external intelligence wing -- the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), Bahukutumbi Raman passed away in Chennai on Sunday evening after a prolonged fight with cancer. He was 77.

Described as an asset by the Indian intelligence community, Raman was a former additional secretary with the Cabinet secretariat. He was also the director of the Institute for Topical Studies, Chennai.

Author of several books, Raman was a critic of India's foreign policy.

He used to write on security, counter-terrorism and military issues of India and South Asia.

A firm believer of Nehru-Gandhi rule, Raman often proposed it as a solution to many of India's political uncertainties and socio-economic woes.

Till his end, Raman was active on micro-blogging site Twitter where he used to talk about his fight with cancer. His last tweet from SORBONNE75 was, "Hanumanji willing, shd be back home coming Saturday."

One of the few officers who saw the creation of RAW in 1968 by R.N. Kao, his analysis on Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and China were helpul for the Indian intelligence community.

He had also written a memoir titled "Kaoboys of Research and Analysis Wing: Down Memory Lane".